[Closed] Gravity Enduro Series entries now open.

I think this is going to be an awesome series. FINALLY proper MTB enduro racing reaches the UK in the form of a proper series.

All the best to Steve and his team organising it. And to all those racing: have fun! (I can't, as I'm not in the UK)

Cheers
Ash

It does look good, did the Ae Avalanche race last year and loved it.

Entered the first 4 rounds.

Wicked - I'm doing the Innerleithen winter enduro at the end of the month... should be a good warm up for this series.

Will def be doing 1st 3 rounds.

Bit of an expensive do if you're doing them all.

bit expensive if you are doing one............ 😆

£60 to ride a trail center...............do you get a blow job thrown in or something.......... 😉

Wors/Ton, you get what you pay for. A more interesting/exciting format than anything else currently on offer in the UK. More costly to [u]operate[/u] than the average race because of the timing set-up. It's not "just riding" a trail centre is it?

ash, how so?

Got to say I was really looking forward to taking part in a couple of these races but the entry price is now putting me off.

How so what Ton?

Entered Eastridge - never ridden there before so shold be good - can't afford all 5 as I am doing Transwales this year 🙂

ash, how is it more costly to run than any other event.

i ride audax.............tea and digestives at the start, and tea and butties at the finish. average entry fee £10........... 😉

Wow, that's an exercise in crap websitery isn't it... Seem to have forgotten to tell us anything about the racing. Anyone got any more info? Looks interesting but a bit bare of detail to decide...

And, uh, specifically what do you get for £60 from the innerleithen date that you don't get for £30 from the Enduro on the 30th? Did some googling and found a post on here that suggests it's using almost the same route.

I think I'll wait until after the jury comes back in...... 😉

me and a mate have entered Ae, well up for it!

For the money you will get
Marshalls
Timing
Course Marking and Setting
Prizes
Medics
and a whole heap of other stuff!!

Ton- MTB gravity enduro takes a much more sophisticated (and hence more expensive to buy/hire) timing system than Audax to make it work.

And, uh, specifically what do you get for £60 from the innerleithen date that you don't get for £30 from the Enduro on the 30th?

From UK Gravity Enduro site:
[i]Each enduro event is held over a weekend with open practice and seeding taking place on Saturday afternoon and the main enduro event taking place on Sunday.[/i]

If you don't want to shell out for £60 a race then don't bother 🙄 No one is forcing you to - blimey!

i agree 60 is steep for a new series, as the same race at ae which was run by the Avalanche cup was cheaper.

I'm down for 3 of them, couldn't really afford to lump out the cash for all 5 in one hit. Hope theres spaces left closer to the time. Went for the ones I think will sell out quickest. Looking forward to them, just need to work on my skills and buy a dropper post.

Sorry I should have said if its too expensive then don't worry about it - bad day at work 😳

Have to agree with others that as a non-racer (and probably not educated in all the work and expense that goes into organising racing like this) £60 has put me off entering. Though don't by any means begrudge organisers aiming to make some money out of these events.

Had a look at the winter and summer enduros and seems with the 'summer' series you do get 1 timed seeding run extra over the winter enduro.

Know its on a very different scale but I've just entered the Megavalanche: about 100 Euros got me 2 timed runs and a 7 day lift pass...

I have been waiting for details of this series as keen to do it and I think it will be of interest to a lot of people. However I wasnt expecting £60!
I do realise the accurate timing of multiple stages come at a cost. Which brings me to: how many timed stages are there at each round and are any stages ridden more than once? I cant find any info on the website about this. Also is there a time limit to get between stages (as in motorcycle enduros)?
When entering most events you know how far, how many laps etc. you are getting for your money - perhaps if this info was made available.................

Thanks for some of the feedback, all taken onboard, will check site for information your asking for, its defo on the facebook group.

There will be 5 stages at all rounds, you are not timed between stages, but given a set time to make it to the start of your next stage, same as Avalanche.
Our twist on things is stage 5 will be live timed into a finish arena, just like DH, trade stands, demo rides, catering, mechanics etc, will all be in this area,
We had hoped to price at £55 per round, but the cost of essentials has made this a non starter.

The Winter enduro at Inners is, i believe, only 3 stages.

Scrambler - No 1 stage will be used again and its defo not like UK enduro, no laps here, all about ripping the trails down 🙂
Hope this helps
Steve

Cheers Parr, very interesting... Will it be possible to race without the seeding, ie just turn up on the sunday as unseeded?

(Hi Steve)

Yes, both are Enduros at Innerleithen but the Jan one is a winter event thus by definition shorter and simpler, both awesome in their own way.

Limited places too, so get your entries in soon if you want to race, we won't have day entries if we sell out the pre-entries.

I'm considering riding the event in July, if any other ladies enter, I've been promised a good party in the middle pub after !

www.innerleithenmtbracing.com

Sorry but the cost is a big put-off - almost as much as BDS but without uplift costs. The argument that it's expensive because of the timing needs seems limp. Orienteering events have more sophisticated timing needs and don't cost anywhere near as much. Has anyone looked at SPORTident timing systems for events like this?

Thanks for the info Steve - didnt think to check facebook group.

Regarding the set time given to get to the next stage - how tight are these timings and are there time penatlties incurred if you're late?

Has anyone looked at SPORTident timing systems for events like this?

Yes. Not particularly cheap when you take everything into account.

I was looking forward to this event but the price per event is well, pricey! You could enter the Megavalanche and get a cheap flight for the same price as entering all of the Gravityenduro events! I really wouldn't expect to pay more than £45 for an event like this in the UK.

I'm guessing that liability insurance will take up a massive chunk of the fee. Only guessing though.

Anyone remember how much the Ae Avalance was lasst year? I'm sure it was £50

£60 a race does seem very expensive but i probably will do at least one of them

Would love to do one but too much for me. Hope it all goes well though.

Given all the costs and probably limited entry numbers I can understand the cost...

Would I be right in thinking the format is a tweaked slightly fancier version of the "mashup" they've had at afan a few times.. I really enjoyed the first one of those but haven't had the chance to do anothed. an extended version really appeals to me...

richmtb - Member
Anyone remember how much the Ae Avalance was lasst year? I'm sure it was £50

£60 a race does seem very expensive but i probably will do at least one of them

Glentress and Kielder Saab Salomon Avalanche Trophy (Enduro stage) was something like £35 but then they (the French) started to hike the price also, like richmtb said something like £50 for Ae last year, add fuel etc onto ya £60 and its no cheap weekend ay. Seems like all event crews are pushing the price up till we crack and dont pay up, could this be breaking point? Bet BC take a fair share to plough back into fixie types so they can ride around in circles, as per Treksters comment FC will want more to cover there ar3e and make the books balance. Still cant work out how the French could do it so cheap (having the cost of traveling over here ontop off event costs) and now its like 70% more expensive? Might go to 1 or 2 if I pawn the family heirlooms.

I think the Avalanche Enduro at Ae last year cost me 50 Euros.

The French subsidise a lot of their sports and the lifts systems are publically owned?

I'm signing up for the first 4 rounds - been looking forward to this for a while and it has the potential to be a great series.

I do agree that £60 per round is expensive but a lot of thought and preparation seems to have gone into this. Personally I'd rather pay a bit more for a better timing system than have the farce that the Mash-Up turned into! As for the UK Avalanche, as far as I could tell, the one at Kielder 2 years ago was guess work to say the least - hand held scanners and stop watches!

Sorry to be a bit thick (and possible something that could be mentioned on the website) but what exactly does the racing entail? Is it just a long downhill race? Are there stages? Do you have to ride uphill between stages? What bike?!

Thanks!

Racing costs money. If you don't want to race then its very simple. If you like racing then 60 quid is ok.

You can't compare Mega to this...Mega is massively subsidised by the ski resort.

I think what the guys have/are doing with this series is fantastic, creating/introducing a new racing format is brave and i wish them all the best. I must admit the price is a bit of a stumbling block but i'm going to try and do one round. Hopefully when the series is a succsess and has been running a while the costs may come down. I don't think a series with an entry of £60 per event is sustainable, its just too much to block book unless you're supported by a sponsor or extremely affluent.

I think its a fantastic event and you will get VFM. I would much prefer to pay £60 for a full weekend event like this than going around a fireroad on a cold and wet welsh hill as the typical UK enduro goes...

So fantastic is the event we decided to sponsor the event, at each event someone's race number will be taken out of a hat and you can win a free holiday with us at Rivierabike.co.uk / rivierafreeride.com

Well done to Parr and the teams.

entered Ae - will probably enter more.

my objective is not to come last, this is a very real prospect, i'm just glad there isn't a cut-off time limit after the qualifier.

or is there? 😯

It is expensive but if it's anything like the one I did at Kielder it's well worth it. I think people are missing the point about the format - imo it's soooo much more exciting than doing a regular mtb race/endurance event. It's a great balance of DH skills and fitness - means you get everyone from DHers to XC weenies having a go, which makes for a great atmosphere (I have no personal interest in this, would just like to see it do well as it's such a good format).

I would love to enter but my general health and fitness are still not up to it really.

I don't think a series with an entry of £60 per event is sustainable, its just too much to block book unless you're supported by a sponsor or extremely affluent.

Have you seen how much most people on here spend on their bikes and accessories?

Have entered the 1st 3 rounds and if I get addicted will do the last 2.

Format sounds a lot of fun with live timing on the last stage. Everyone at the end will have a vested interest in the riders following them (due to fastest seeding running last) and should make for a great atmosphere as Ae was very good even without this.

Will also be good as you will get to see the faster riders on stage before going on to the next stage etc. Might be trickier with slower riders wearing a slow line to begin with...

Given the amounts spent on bikes and parts to brag in the car park of trail centres I don't think £60 for a full weekend including camping is a deal breaker imo.

Big thumbs up and hope to see some of you there.

Martin

So is it stage racing then? Do you need a bike to ride up hill as well as down?

Personally I can't see the VFM, although that may be down to a lack of info. The holiday prize above for example sounds amazing but it's the first I've heard of it.

I can go to the likes of Ae Forest and ride as fast as I can for free, so when I think of what else I could do with £60 it just seems like timing (albeit very good) and some atmosphere isn't worth it.

With all those sponsors on board I would have expected a goodie bag or something, wouldn't have to be expensive. Stickers and a t-shirt or something. Maybe that's just me.

Bit vague on what an enduro is tbh. It's staged so you have a rest between the stages then? And is there plenty of climbing or is it all DH?
Seen as I know nothing about them, I've just entered the Innerliethen winter one 🙂 Best way to find out I guess.

Lunge - it's stage racing yes. Ride order is based on a seeding run the day before. Riders set off on race day at 15 second intervals and have a set route to cover with 5 timed Special Stages round the course. The rest of the route isn't timed but you have to be at the start of the next Special Stage by your allotted start time or you will incur penalties.

IMHO it make for an exciting, involving days racing, with a really good atmosphere as you get to chat with the riders around you on the connecting stages. As for paying to ride round a trail centre, whilst most of these races are [i]based[/i] at trail centres, from what I understand, the majority of special stages at least, will be off the normal routes.

fbk, excellent, thanks very much.

[i]I can go to the likes of Ae Forest and ride as fast as I can for free, so when I think of what else I could do with £60 it just seems like timing (albeit very good) and some atmosphere isn't worth it.[/i]

Well just goto Ae and ride then. You don't HAVE to do this.

Have you seen how much most people on here spend on their bikes and accessories?

I see your point but i don't/can't afford to spend another £300 a year to race it, and then on top of that pay for accomadation and fuel costs.

My post may have read like i was somehow putting the team and their efforts down, i'm not. Its just the entry fee would put me off from entering more than say one or two events at a time.

I can't decide which one to do between the Ae one and the Innerleithan event

innerleithen

It does explain the format on their site but seeing as some people seem to be struggling... 🙂

(this is based on my experience of the Avalanche Enduro which looks to be very similar)

You do a qualifier on the saturday which decides your start position on race day. This is a timed run - probably one of the sections of singletrack descent. Next morning you go and get a list of times - this is when your timed runs on the Sunday start. You have to get up the climb to the start in time otherwise the clock starts ticking anyway.

The one I did most of the times were reasonably relaxed and you got to wait around for a bit before your timed run, but one of them wasn't, and there was people getting to the top of the climb then having to set off on their timed descent straight away.

The most suitable bike is probably your average 5" travel all mountain type thing. The odd person was on a DH bike or XC hardtail. If you think about your average UK trail centre singletrack section - they might mostly go down but with short stretches of flat or uphill so a DH bike isn't really ideal.

I can go to the likes of Ae Forest and ride as fast as I can for free, so when I think of what else I could do with £60 it just seems like timing (albeit very good) and some atmosphere isn't worth it.

With all those sponsors on board I would have expected a goodie bag or something, wouldn't have to be expensive. Stickers and a t-shirt or something. Maybe that's just me.

I find it kind of funny that you would miss out on a really fun, exciting experience because they aren't giving you a few stickers. 😆

Well just goto Ae and ride then. You don't HAVE to do this.

I know. Not sure what your point is.

I find it kind of funny that you would miss out on a really fun, exciting experience because they aren't giving you a few stickers. 😆

But I LOVE stickers innit! Seriously though I'm not saying it's a deal breaker, just that wee freebies like that cost pennies but (imho) add value to events like this and might make the entry cost more palatable to many 'ordinary joe' riders like myself.

Just to make myself clear I'm not knocking the series per se. I love the enduro format (have done a couple) and I sincerely hope it's a success.

I have personally made my focus of riding bikes around this 'Enduro' format. Yes its just the same as going riding, yes its at the same place you can ride your bike for free and yes its X amount of money.

So why would I have spent so much time and money on doing such things when I don't NEED to?

Do one and you'll find out.

p.s. you'll need some lungs

But I LOVE stickers innit! Seriously though I'm not saying it's a deal breaker, just that wee freebies like that cost pennies but (imho) add value to events like this and might make the entry cost more palatable to many 'ordinary joe' riders like myself.

I'm with you there - I moaned about the lack of goodies at the Avalanche event too. 🙂

We did Ae last year and I thought it was good value for money. We had a full weekend's riding and a lot of fun. Everybody was very friendly and enjoyed the format. It was fun pushing to get that extra bit of speed out of the bike, but trying not to gas yourself before the end of the stage. Of course you can ride the Ae red any time you like but you aren't going to have the same experience as racing on the timed stages against a couple of hundred other riders.

There is a lot of interest in these kind of races in the UK. Some of them have been non-events due to timing failures. They are demanding to organise and run. Even if you can't afford the series or you think it is expensive, what is the harm in supporting one or two events ands trying to help these guys create some momentum and a business model they can have some confidence in?

Seems like anyone who's in doubt could come along and do the Innerleithen event on the 30th to get a taster, since the verdict seems to be that these events are similiar, but bigger and More Awesome.

grumm - Member

"It does explain the format on their site but seeing as some people seem to be struggling..."

Very good smartarse but that was all added since yesterday 🙂

RHSno2 - Member

"I have personally made my focus of riding bikes around this 'Enduro' format. Yes its just the same as going riding, yes its at the same place you can ride your bike for free."

To me the fact that it's riding much like I usually do only in a race is the big appeal, not a drawback! Course, it's also completely true of a lot of other events, 10UTB etc so I don't know why this event's getting particular criticism for it. I can go and do the world cup route at fort william any day so why am I doing the endurance dh? Because it looks ace 😉

As briefly mentioned above the French can organise races so much cheaper because most of the big expenditure is paid for by the government, such as insurance, policing, marshals, first aid, etc. They get the money from the Sporting and Tourism Depts, as it's seen as a benefit to the local town / village to have these events.

We were talking to the Masters MTB World Champs organisers in Pra Loup a couple of years ago to find out how they did it so cheaply, as there were ideas to perhaps try and get it to the UK.

We'd only be paying £25 per round if those costs were knocked off!

NorthWind. I think you misunderstood me. I am for it and I do it.

I was agreeing with you RHS 😉

Well...thats not in the spirit of STW...;)

We have organised a couple of these events in Italy and our entry fee was €40 Euro.

however the event was HEAVILY subsidised and with the amount of work done we basically just covered costs but all the labour that people put in was done for free....so basically we made a loss..

Nasher, I like the sound of your sponsorship. There's no way I'll come close to scaring the podium - it's nice to think I'm in with a chance of winning something regardless 🙂

it does sound expensive, but then last years Mountain mayhem was £65 for a solo racer, and all you do there is race around a field and pass over a timed mat, so comparable really - if not better value.

cheers Fbk

We were going to give a prize to those who won the series but then they are probably going to be sponsored pro elite type riders... so better to do a spot prize in each event for the average Jo.

Bit disapointed that the afan race is on the 4X track. Thats just a 4X race on your own. I was hoping for whites or the wall with timed sections on the go bits. The 4X track isn't very long at all.
Shame. I feel a bit silly for getting all excited about it now.

Bit disapointed that the afan race is on the 4X track. Thats just a 4X race on your own. I was hoping for whites or the wall with timed sections on the go bits. The 4X track isn't very long at all.
Shame. I feel a bit silly for getting all excited about it now.

The race finishes in the 4x area. There are timed sections on the fun bits of whites, the wall, etc..

That's good to know nasher, cheers! I'll be entering for sure.

The 2011 enduro will be based in the grounds of Brywn Betws 4X track

Bit disapointed that the afan race is on the 4X track. Thats just a 4X race on your own. I was hoping for whites or the wall with timed sections on the go bits. The 4X track isn't very long at all.
Shame. I feel a bit silly for getting all excited about it now.

That's good to know nasher, cheers! I'll be entering for sure.

The 2011 enduro will be based in the grounds of Brywn Betws 4X track

Maybe a suggestion to reword the website?

Do we really need to make life that simple these days?? An Enduro event on a 4x track... 🙄

On the event thread it does seem a little steep 😕 was looking forward to it but after the previous Mash up crap I think i'll see how the 1st goes!

Good luck to the guys running it though 🙂

Do we really need to make life that simple these days?? An Enduro event on a 4x track...

I take it that you're aware that the 4x track is seperate to the rest of the trails at afan?
Those of us who haven't done these kind of events before do not know what to expect and go by the explanation on the website which was this;

The 2011 enduro will be based in the grounds of Brywn Betws 4X track

sorry for being dull but what is a enduro event?? is it just laps of the trail centre pr are u just timed coming down a long DH trail set out?

Jump off the high horse mate, with people skills and patience like that I'd be surprised if your skills guiding company gets much business.

Thanks for clicking through to my site 🙂 I do fine thanks.

Afan Argoed is pretty well known by now.

Brynn bettws isn't part of afan argoed. Privately owned so not a part of the FC trails.

So you actually seem pretty well informed or you Googled it...like most people would when looking at a venue.

I did on the Shrewsbury round as i did know exactly where the event was. Amazing thing this internet 🙂

I ride afan regularly, that's why I know about the 4x track. No google needed. Shirley you can see from the description how it could be misinterpreted?
BTW; what is the shrewsbury trail/route like? Never ridden there. Should I just google it?

Not really, common sense tells you that it's not really possible to do an Enduro on a 4x track with 300 riders at 15 seconds intervals.

Also in true Naked Gun style "don't call me Shirley.."

I'm off now i left my high horse loose in the garden.

cubemeup - Member

sorry for being dull but what is a enduro event?? is it just laps of the trail centre pr are u just timed coming down a long DH trail set out?

it's based on 1 lap of a trail centre.

you are timed on 6-ish 'special stages' - these are descents, or at least the end is lower than the start (there may be some climbing).

each stage lasts 4-ish minutes.

the winner is the person with the quickest combined time. (about 24 minutes)

it's ace.

it's a bit pricey, but hopefully enough people make enough money out of it to keep trails open/maintained/developed.

the trails aren't difficult, you don't need a dedicated bike, people kick my arse all over the shop riding anything from a unicycle to a Dh bike.